Shutter



May 12, 1942- H. M. vETTERLl-:IN 2,282,914

SHUTTER V Filed sept.v 28, 1959 4 sheets-sheet 1 LF`wo Iii a @L 5 ATTORNEY.

May 12, 194,2.

H. M. VETTERLEN SHUTVTER Filed Sept. 28, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOK ATTORNEY.

May 12, 1942- H. M. VETTERLEIN 2,282,914

SHUTTER Y Filed Sept.- 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May. 12, 1942.

H. M. VETTERLEIN 2,282,914

SHUTTER Filed sept. 28. 19:59 4 sheets-shea 4 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 12, 1942 SHUTTER Henry M. Vetterlein', Bl

asdell, N; Y., assig'nor-of one-thirdto Henry Penn Burke, Philadelphia,

Y Pa., and one-third to Harvey'L. Hirst, Riverton, N. J

` Application September 2S, 1939, Serial No. 296,887 5 Claims. v(Cl. 268-30) This invention relates to improvements in shutters for door or window openings, 'of the type in which the shutter proper comprises a curtain made of a plurality of sheet metal panels slidable vertically with respect to each other,` which are adapted, when the door or window opening is closed, to be disposed one below the other in overlapping relationship, and when lthe door or window opening is open, to be disposed one behind the other above the opening.

The present invention relates more particularly to improved means for raising andlowering the panels which comprise the curtain.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a shutter of the character aforef said, improved means for raising and lowering the curtain panels, which will be eicient in operation yet simple and inexpensive in construction.

A further object ofthe -invention is to provide, in a shutter of the character aforesaid, improved Voperating mechanism by means of which the curtain panels will be raised proper sequence.

A further object of the invention isto provide, in a shutter of the character aforesaid, improved tpanels, which may be actuated with a minimum of exertion on the part of the operator.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood. from 'the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part fhereof, in which:

Figure lis an elevational view, looking from the interior of the building, of a doorA structure embodying the main features of the present invention;l

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof, with the curtain panels shownin the lowered or closed position;

Fig. 3 is a similar View, but with the curtain panels shown in the raised or open position;

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations, illustrating the arrangement of Vcounterweights employed for counterbalancing the respective door panels, the -counterweights being shown in said views in positions corresponding respectively tothe positions of the door panels shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. -6 is a vertical section of the lower door panel and certain associated parts, illustrating f details of construction;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating in detail vcertain portions of the operating mechamsm; Y

and lowered `in the c T mechanism for raising and lowering the curtain 'front and the upwardly extending part-*I1 of,r

'adapted to close.

yalong the upper edge of each Fig. 8 is a section taken approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a section take line 9 9 of Fig.:8. l

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, Vand' that Various 'changes and modications may be made in the structure disclosed without `departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, II designates a wall vforming part of a building and having'therein a door or window opening I2 which the shutter is The shutter proper comprises a curtainmade of a plurality of plates or panels I3 which are slidable vertically, being guided a their sides in the housings VI 4 Yand I5.

`Each of the panels I3of the shutter curtain has itsV upper end portion bent over at the top and then downwardly, as at I 6, to form a channel each of the panels, with the exception of the lowermost one, is bent inwardly at the bottom and then upwardly, as atjI 'I, to forma channel along the bottom of each of said panels, the arrangement being such that, 'when said panels are lowered to the closed position, the downwardly extending part I6 of the bent-over portion Yat the' top of each panel isadapted to engage the chan-V nel at the bottom of the adjacent panel to the the bent-over portion at the bottom of each panel is adapted to engage the channel at the top of the adjacentpanel to the rear.

The lowermost curtain panel I3a is provided along its lower edge ywith Van angle'membr I8 which is adapted to engage the floor or sill I9 of the door or window opening I2 when the panels I 3 are lowered tothe closed position. Y

There is also provided, at the top of the structure, a fixed panel 20 -which has'its lower end portion bent inwardly and then upwardly,as at I'Ia,.to form a channel along the bottom thereof for engagement, when the movable curtain panels4 are lowered, by the bent-over portion I6 at the top of the uppermost panel I'3b.

Each of the curtain panels, vwith the exception of the lowermost one, is provided with lugs `or r ears 2| extending inwardly so as tok overlapin each instance. the -topl of the adjacent Apanelto the rear,v and thus prevent said panelto the rear from being raised above the panel in front of the same in any given position of said panels:

Each of the curtain panels I3, with the excep-` tion ofV the lowermost one I3a, haspconnected vardoroximately onthe Y panel, and likewise thereto, at a point midway the extremities thereof, a suitable cable chain 22 which extends upwardly therefrom and thence over an idler pulley 23 suitably supported at the top of the housing. Each chain 22, after passing from its idler pulley 23, extends horizontally above the top of the housing to a pulley 24 which is notched or toothed on its periphery complemental to the particular type of chain employed, whereby as each pulley is actuated, its chain is operated in unison there-V with during the raising and lowering of the curtain panels, as will be forth. Each of the pulleys 24 is journaled on a shaft 25 which in turn is journaled in bearing structures 26 and 21, suitably supported at the top of the housing.

After passing over its pulley 24, each of said chains then extends downwardly, having a counterweight 28 secured to the lower end thereof. While each of the curtain panels I3 is preferably provided with but a single chain 22 extending to its counterweight 28, it will, however, be understood that a plurality of rsuch chains 22 and counterweights 2,8 may be employed for each panel, if desired.

YThe lowermost panel I3a of the curtain is preferably provided near each end thereof with an inwardly extending bracket 29 to which cable chains 30 and 3| are respectively connected. The chains 30 and 3| extend over idler pulleys 32 and 33 respectively mounted at the top of the housing, and thence extend horizontally to a pulley 34 which is mounted on the shaft 25 and keyed thereto. v The pulley 34 has two grooves in its periphery, each. shaped complemental to theV chain which passes thereover. The chains 3|) and 3| after passing over the pulley 34 extend downwardly and are connected to a counterweight 35. The purpose of so mounting the chains, which are connected to the lowermost panel |3a at the lower inner portion of said panel, is to permit the use, in the structure, of an automatic lock device of the type described and shown in Letters Patent, No. 2,007,552, dated July 9, 1935, if desired. Also the use of two chains connected to said panel insures the raising and lowering of the curtain panel without tilting lengthwise.

The shaft 25, upon which the pulleys 24 and 34 are mounted, extends through the bearingv 26 which is secured to the top portion of the housing, and is provided on its projecting end with a suitable Ysheave 36 whichl is xedly secured to the shaft 25 and is provided in its periphery with a groove notched complemental to an endless chain 31 which extends thereover. The endless chain 31 depends downwardly in a loop to a pointrfor convenient operation. When said chain 31 is actuated in either direction, the shaft 25 upon which the sheave 36 is mounted will be constrained to rotate in a corresponding direction, and thus actuate the chains 3i! and 3|, and 22, which are connected to the respective curtain panels, in a manner to be hereinafter described.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the chain pulley 34, which is provided for Athe pair of chains 30 and 3| which are connected to the lowermost curtain panel |3a, is keyed tothe shaft V25, whereas each of thepulleys 24, over vwhich passr the chains 22 which are connected to thercurtain panels I3 other than the lowermost one, is so mounted on said shaft 25.as to permitisaid shaft, under certain conditions and at certain times, to be rotated independently thereof.v

threaded in the bearing.

hereinafter more fully set i such that the bushing 4| may be adjusted in the Each of the chain pulleys 24 is provided with a plurality of recesses in which are mounted` plugs 38, of suitable friction material, which in each instance bear against the next adjacent pulley.

Mounted in the bearing 26 is a coil spring 39 which surrounds the shaft 25. Said coil spring 39 bears at one end against a washer 40 which in turn bears against the rearmost pulley 34 and at its other end against a bushing 4I which is bearing 26 to obtain the proper degree of tension of the coil spring 39,`and thus regulate the frictional drag between the several chain pulleys.

A metallic washer 42 is interposed between the chain pulley 24 nearest the front end of the shaft 25 and the bearing 21 provided at that end of the shaft.

To prevent rattling of the curtain panels I3, in any given position thereof, the lowermost panel I3a may be provided, at each end thereof, with the device, illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, comprising a leaf spring 43, secured midway its extremities to said panel and carrying, at each end thereof, -a roller 44 which rollers bear against the inner surface of the housings I4 and I5.

The operation of the device will now be explained.

Assuming the door to be closed, that is with the curtain panels I3 in the positions shown in in the proper direction, thereby rotating theA sheave 36 over which said chain 31 passes.V Said sheave 36, being fixedly mounted on the Vshaft 25, will cause said shaft to rotate, and thereby rotate the chain pulley 34 over which pass the two chains 30 and 3| extending from the lowermost of the curtain panels I3, t

When the lowermost of the curtain panels I3a is raised to such position that the top edge there- Yof bears against the overhanging lugs or ears 2| carried by the next adjacent curtain panel I3, said panel I3 will thereafter be raised, as Vthe operator continues to actuate the endless chain. The same action occurs as the top edge of each panel I3 reaches and engages the overhanging lugs or ears 2| carried by the top edge ofthenext adjacent panel I3, until finally all of the panels are raised to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

By reason of the peculiar action of the friction members 38 carried by the respective chain pulleys 24, the curtain panels I3 will be raised in successive order beginning with the lowermost panel |3a.

To lower the curtain panels to close the .door or window opening, the operator will actuate Athe chain 31 in the opposite direction, whereupon the friction members 38 carried by the chain pulleys 24 will first cause all of the panels to be lowered in unison until the bent-over. portion at the top of the'uppermost panel I3"v engages the upturned portion |1a at the bottom of the fixed panel 2|)v at the top of the structure. The remaining panels I3 will then Vcontinue to belowered until the bent-over portion `I6 at the top of each panel reaches and engages the upturned portion |1 at the bottom of the adjacenty panel to the front, this action continuing until-f theVA The arrangement is panel I3a reaches the iloor or sill I9 at the bottom of the door or window opening I2.

I claim:

1. In a shutter for door or window openings, a curtain comprising a plurality of panels adapted to be raised and lowered, individual counterweights for each of said panels, a cable extending from each of said panels to its respective counterweight, a pulley for each of said panels over which its respective cable extends, a shaft on which said pulleys are mounted, and means disposed between each adjacent pair of said pulleys for imparting a definite frictional drag therebetween.

2. In a shutter for door or window openings, a curtain comprising a plurality of panels adapted to be raised and lowered, individual counterweights for each of said panels, a cable extending from each of said panels to its respective counterweight, a pulley for each of said panels over which its respective cable extends, a shaft on which said pulleys are mounted, means disposed between each adjacent pair of said pulleys for imparting a denite frictional drag therebetween, and means for adjusting the degree of such frctional drag.

3. In a shutter for door or window openings, a curtain comprising a pluralityof panels adapted to be raised and lowered, individual counterweights for each of said panels, a cable extending from each of said panels to its respective counterweight, a pulley for each of said panels over which its respective cable extends, a shaft on which said pulleys are mounted, means for rotating said shaft, the pulley for a cable extending from the lowermost panel being keyed to said shaft, and the shaft being rotatable with 3 respect to the other pulleys, and means disposed between each adjacent pair of said pulleys for imparting a definite frictional drag therebetween.

4. In a shutter for door or window openings, a curtain comprising a plurality of panels adapted to be raised and lowered, individual counterweights for each of said panels, a cable extending from each of said panels to its respective counterweight, a pulley foreach of said panels over which its respective lcable extends, a shaft on which said pulleys are mounted, means for rotating said shaft, the pulley for a cable extending from the lowermost panel being keyed to said shaft, and the shaft being rotatable with respect to the other pulleys, means disposed between each adjacent pair .of said pulleys for imparting a denite frictional drag therebetween, and means for adjusting the degree of such frictional drag. c

5. In a shutter for door or window openings, a curtain comprising a plurality of panels adapted to be raised and lowered, individual counterweights for each of said panels, acable extending from each of said panels to its respective counterweight, a Pulley for each of said panels over which its respective cable extends, a shaft on which said pulleys are mounted, means for rotating said shaft, thexpulley for a cable extending from the lowermost panel being'keyed to said shaft, and the shaft being rotatable with respect to the other pulleys, means disposed between each adjacent pair of said pulleys for imparting a denite frictional drag therebetween, and

means for adjusting simultaneously the degree of frictional drag between all of said pulleys.

HENRY M. vETrERLEIN. 

